Suspended Utensil Storage System and Method

ABSTRACT

A suspended utensil storage system includes a utensil tray including a plurality of utensil compartments having a mesh material therein; and a debris collector tray underlying the utensil tray and receiving the utensil tray. The mesh material of the utensil compartments of the utensil tray supports utensils and includes holes sized to allow debris to fall there through into the debris collector tray for collecting the debris.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATE APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. nonprovisional patentapplication No. 12/772,876 filed May 3, 2010, which claims priority toU.S. provisional patent application No. 61/177,185, filed May 11, 2009.The applications are incorporated herein in their entirety by thisreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates to kitchen utensil storage systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Standard utensil storage trays that sit in kitchen drawers collectkitchen food particles and other debris within the very compartmentsintended to store cleaned eating utensils allowing for potentiallysoiling and infecting the eating tools. Cleaning these standard traysinvolves removing all of the many utensils and scrubbing the manycorners and curves where particles and scum may accumulate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To overcome the above problems and others, an aspect of the inventioninvolves a suspended utensil storage system that maintains debrisseparated from utensils while allowing for easy occasional clean up of adebris collector without having to remove dozens of separate flatwareand other kitchen tools.

A two-piece storage system includes a utensil tray made of sturdy widemesh material that nests suspended in a debris collector tray allowingcounter crumbs and other kitchen debris to pass through the utensilcompartments to the debris collector tray below. This suspension systemprevents clean utensils from being soiled from food particles and otherkitchen debris as well as assists in preventing potential health risksfrom utensils coming in consistent contact with unsanitary foodparticles and other debris.

Wide grid plastic or metal material forms utensil tray, allowing supportof utensils while gravity pulls crumbs, dust, and other debris throughopen spaces to debris collector carrier below in which the utensil trayis nested.

Sturdy formed utensil tray lifts easily out with utensils remaining inthe upper mesh tray thereby allowing for easy exposure, extraction, andcleaning of the debris collector.

Sturdy solid debris collector tray is easily separated from the porousutensil tray for hand or dishwashing machine-safe cleansing.

In one or more embodiments, the mesh carrier/utensil tray nests in thelower crumb collector/ debris collector tray, is supported by a “ledge”in the upper and/or lower parts of the debris collector tray, and/or theutensil tray includes a “lip” that fits on the debris collector traylike a well-fitted pot cover.

Fewer edges and angles in the collector are preferred to make fewersurfaces for easier cleaning.

The utensil tray needs to support the weight of the utensils and notbend or lose form over time.

Another aspect of the invention involves a suspended utensil storagesystem including a utensil tray having a plurality of utensilcompartments having a mesh material therein; and a debris collector trayunderlying the utensil tray and receiving the utensil tray. The meshmaterial of the utensil compartments of the utensil tray supportsutensils and includes holes sized to allow debris to fall there throughinto the debris collector tray for collecting the debris.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in theart after a review of the drawings and the detailed description of thepreferred embodiments set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The details of the present invention, both as to its structure andoperation, may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying drawings,in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of a suspendedutensil storage system;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a debris collectortray of the suspended utensil storage system;

FIG. 3 is another top perspective view of the debris collector tray ofthe suspended utensil storage system;

FIG. 4 is a further top perspective view of the debris collector tray ofthe suspended utensil storage system;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a utensil tray ofthe suspended utensil storage system;

FIG. 6 is another top perspective view of the utensil tray of thesuspended utensil storage system;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the utensil tray of the suspended utensilstorage system; and

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the utensil tray of the suspendedutensil storage system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, embodiment(s) of a suspended utensilstorage system (“suspension system”) 100 that maintains debris separatedfrom utensils while allowing for easy occasional clean up of a debriscollector without having to remove dozens of separate flatware and otherkitchen tools will be described.

The suspension system 100 is a two-piece storage system including autensil tray 110 made of sturdy wide mesh material 115 that nestssuspended in a debris collector tray 120 allowing counter crumbs andother kitchen debris to pass through utensil compartments 125, 127 tothe debris collector tray 120 below. This suspension system 100 preventsclean utensils from being soiled from food particles and other kitchendebris as well as assists in preventing potential health risks fromutensils coming in consistent contact with unsanitary food particles andother debris.

The suspension system 100, the utensil tray 110, and the debriscollector tray 120 all have substantially the same overall length,width, and height. Further, during normal use, the utensil tray 110 isdisposed substantially completely within the debris collector tray 120.

As shown in FIG. 7, wide grid plastic or metal material forms utensiltray 110 allowing support of utensils while gravity pulls crumbs, dustand other debris through open spaces/holes 130 to debris collector tray120 below in which the utensil tray 110 is nested. Each open space/hole130 is defined by lateral support rib 132 and longitudinal support rib134 and has a width, a length, and height. In one embodiment, for eachopen space, where the width and the length are not the same, thesmallest of the width and the height (i.e., smallest dimension in theplane of the mesh material 115) has a distance/dimension of at least0.05 inches. In another embodiment, for each open space, where the widthand the length are not the same, the greater of the width and the height(i.e., maximum dimension in the plane of the mesh material 115) has adistance/dimension of 1 inch). In further embodiment, the area of eachopen space/hole 130 (in the plane of the mesh material 115) is at least0.0025 in.² In a still further embodiment, the area of each openspace/hole 130 (in the plane of the mesh material 115) is no greaterthan 1 in.² The sizing of the open spaces/holes 130 andthickness/dimensions of the mesh material 115 is designed to support theweight of the utensils so that the mesh material 115 does not bend orlose form over time while allowing crumbs and other debris to passthrough the open spaces/holes 130. In alternative embodiments, the openspaces/holes 130 may have dimensions and/or areas other than thoseindicated above and herein.

The utensil compartments include a bottom surface 136 (FIG. 1) and thedebris collector tray includes a floor 138, and the distance between thebottom surface 136 of the utensil compartments and the floor 138 is atleast 0.05 in.

Sturdy formed utensil tray 110 lifts easily out with utensils remainingin the utensil tray 110 thereby allowing for easy exposure, extractionand cleaning of the debris collector tray 120.

Sturdy solid debris collector tray 120 is easily separated from theporous utensil tray 110 for hand or dishwashing machine-safe cleansing.

In one or more embodiments, the utensil tray 110 nests in the debriscollector tray 120, is supported by a ledge 140 of the debris collectortray 120, and/or the utensil tray 110 includes a lip 150 that fits onthe debris collector tray 120 like a well fitted pot cover.

In the embodiment shown, the utensil tray 110 includes outer peripherallip 150 that surrounds the utensil compartments 125. The lip 150includes recessed hole-receiving portions 152 along opposite sides 154of the utensil tray 110, where left and right outermost longitudinallyoriented utensil compartments 125 join with laterally oriented largeutensil compartment 127. The recessed hole-receiving portions 152include receiving holes 156.

The debris collector tray 120 includes half-cylindrical members 158 thatextend laterally inward from side walls 162 (creating outer incurvedrecesses 164). Alignment posts/nubs 166 protrude upwardly from a top ofthe half-cylindrical members 158.

When the utensil tray 110 is lowered onto and nested into the debriscollector tray 120, the peripheral lip 150 of the utensil tray 110 restson peripheral ledge 140 of the debris collector tray 120 and the pair ofreceiving holes 156 of the recessed hole-receiving portions 152 receivethe alignment posts/nubs 166 of the half-cylindrical members 158. Withthe alignment posts/nubs 166 disposed in the recessed hole-receivingportions 152, the utensil tray 110 is secured relative to the debriscollector tray 120 so that the only relative movement allowed is upwardrelative movement so that the utensil tray 110 and the debris collectortray 120 do not move relative to each other than upward movement of theutensil tray 110 for removing the nested utensil tray 110 from thedebris collector tray 120 (e.g., during cleaning, dishwashing).

The debris collector tray 120 includes very few edges and angles to makefewer surfaces for easier cleaning

In alternative embodiments, the utensil tray 110 and/or the debriscollector tray 120 include different configurations/constructions toallow the utensil tray 110 to nest in the debris collector tray 120,prevent relative movement of the utensil tray 110 relative to the debriscollector tray 120, and allow the utensil tray 110 to be easily handledand added/removed relative to the debris collector tray 120. Forexample, in an alternative embodiment, in locations such as where thedebris collector tray 120 includes half-cylindrical members 158, theside walls 162 may have slots (i.e., no material) so that the user canget a hold of the peripheral lip 150 of the utensil tray 110 in theseareas for handling the utensil tray 110.

A method of using the suspension system 100 will now be described. Theutensil tray 110 is lowered onto and nested into the debris collectortray 120. When nested, the peripheral lip 150 of the utensil tray 110rests on peripheral ledge 140 of the debris collector tray 120 and thepair of receiving holes 156 of the recessed hole-receiving portions 152receive the alignment posts/nubs 166 of the half-cylindrical members158. Utensils are inserted into the plurality of utensil compartments125, 127 of the utensil tray 110. Debris that is accidentally droppedinto the utensil tray 110 falls through the holes 130 of the meshmaterial 115 of the utensil compartments 125, 127 into the debriscollector tray 120.

A utensil drawer may be opened and the suspension system 100 filled withutensils may be inserted into a utensil drawer; the suspension system100 may be inserted into a utensil drawer and then filled with utensils;the debris collector tray 120 may be inserted into a utensil drawer andthen the utensil tray 110, which is already filled with utensils, may benested into the debris collector tray 120; and/or the debris collectortray 120 may be inserted into a utensil drawer, then the utensil tray110 may be nested into the debris collector tray 120, and then, finally,the utensils may be inserted into the utensil tray 110 of the suspensionsystem 100.

To clean the suspension system 100, the utensil tray 110 is removedupwardly from the debris collector tray 120. Alignment posts/nubs 166serve as leverage points to push the debris collector tray 120 away fromthe utensil tray 110 with one's respective thumbs while lifting theutensil tray 140 away from/out of the debris collector tray 120 atperipheral ledge 140 using one's respective sets of fingers. The debrisin the debris collector tray 120 is disposed of (e.g., debris collectortray 120 is removed from utensil drawer and debris collected in thedebris collector tray 120 is dumped into a trash can). The debriscollector tray 120 and the utensil tray 110 are cleaned (e.g., handwashed, dishwasher washed).

Once cleaned, the utensil drawer is opened, the debris collector tray120, the utensil tray 110, and utensils are inserted into the utensildrawer, and the utensil drawer is closed.

The above figures may depict exemplary configurations for the invention,which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionalitythat can be included in the invention. The invention is not restrictedto the illustrated architectures or configurations, but can beimplemented using a variety of alternative architectures andconfigurations. Additionally, although the invention is described abovein terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it shouldbe understood that the various features and functionality described inone or more of the individual embodiments with which they are described,but instead can be applied, alone or in some combination, to one or moreof the other embodiments of the invention, whether or not suchembodiments are described and whether or not such features are presentedas being a part of a described embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope ofthe present invention, especially in any following claims, should not belimited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unlessotherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposedto limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” shouldbe read as mean “including, without limitation” or the like; the term“example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item indiscussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; and adjectivessuch as “conventional,” “traditional,” “standard,” “known” and terms ofsimilar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item describedto a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, butinstead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal,or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at anytime in the future. Likewise, a group of items linked with theconjunction “and” should not be read as requiring that each and everyone of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be readas “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group ofitems linked with the conjunction “or” should not be read as requiringmutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should also be read as“and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, although item,elements or components of the disclosure may be described or claimed inthe singular, the plural is contemplated to be within the scope thereofunless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. The presence ofbroadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but notlimited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read tomean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances wheresuch broadening phrases may be absent.

What is claimed:
 1. A suspended utensil storage system, comprising: autensil tray including a plurality of utensil compartments having a meshmaterial therein; a debris collector tray underlying the utensil trayand receiving the utensil tray, wherein the mesh material of the utensilcompartments of the utensil tray supports utensils and includes holessized to allow debris to fall there through into the debris collectortray for collecting the debris.
 2. The suspended utensil storage systemof claim 1, wherein the utensil tray nests substantially completelywithin the debris collector tray.
 3. The suspended utensil storagesystem of claim 1, wherein the utensil compartments include a bottomsurface and the debris collector tray includes a floor, and the distancebetween the bottom surface of the utensil compartments and the floor isat least 0.05 in.
 4. The suspended utensil storage system of claim 1,wherein the debris collector tray includes a ledge and the utensil trayis supported in the debris collector tray by the ledge.
 5. The suspendedutensil storage system of claim 1, wherein the debris collector trayincludes a ledge and the utensil tray includes a lip that is supportedin the debris collector tray on the ledge.
 6. The suspended utensilstorage system of claim 1, wherein the holes sized to allow debris tofall there through include an area of at least 0.0025 in.² and an areano more than 1.0 in.
 7. The suspended utensil storage system of claim 1,wherein the debris collector tray includes opposite side walls withsupports having alignment posts protruding upwardly, and the utensiltray includes receiving holes that receive the alignment posts of thedebris collector tray.
 8. The suspended utensil storage system of claim1, wherein the supports are half-cylindrical members that extendlaterally inward from the opposite side walls, and the alignment postsprotrude upwardly from the half-cylindrical members, and the utensiltray includes recessed receiving holes that receive the alignment postsof the debris collector tray.
 9. A method of using the suspended utensilstorage system of claim 1, comprising: nesting the utensil tray of thesuspended utensil storage system into the debris collector tray;inserting utensils into the plurality of utensil compartments of theutensil tray; dropping debris into the utensil tray whereby the debrisfalls through the holes of the mesh material of the utensil compartmentsinto the debris collector tray.
 10. The method of using the suspendedutensil storage system of claim 9, further including inserting at leastone of the debris collector tray and the suspended utensil storagesystem into a utensil drawer.
 11. The method of using the suspendedutensil storage system of claim 9, further including removing theutensil tray from the debris collector tray; disposing of the debris inthe debris collector tray.
 12. The method of using the suspended utensilstorage system of claim 11, further including cleaning the debriscollector tray.
 13. The method of using the suspended utensil storagesystem of claim 11, further including cleaning the utensil tray.
 14. Amethod of using the suspended utensil storage system of claim 8,comprising: nesting the utensil tray of the suspended utensil storagesystem into the debris collector tray whereby the receiving holes of theutensil tray receive the alignment posts of the debris collector tray;inserting utensils into the plurality of utensil compartments of theutensil tray; dropping debris into the utensil tray whereby the debrisfalls through the holes of the mesh material of the utensil compartmentsinto the debris collector tray.
 15. The method of using the suspendedutensil storage system of claim 14, further including removing theutensil tray from the debris collector tray by using the alignment postsas leverage points to push the debris collector tray away from theutensil tray with one's respective thumbs while lifting the utensil trayaway from the debris collector tray; disposing of the debris in thedebris collector tray.